Scrolls of the DA - Flyers

The Ravenwing Dark Talon supports its allies on the ground. It is perhaps the deadliest weapon in the Ravenwing's armoury, and it plays a pivotal role in the 2nd Company's eternal hunt.  The main role for the Nephilim Jetfighter is as an interceptor to establish air superiority over the battlefield, allowing their brethren to concentrate on ground targets with little concern for aerial assault

Drkmorals: So one kit for two planes. The Dark TALON... looks like the STORM Talon with larger wings to me. I haven't seen the kit in person just yet to confirm that. However fluff wise it actually makes sense so I won't complain or say anything negative.. It does give you the chance if you are running your own flavor of marines that you pretend it's the codex of the month to use the power of magnets on the wings and swap it's use from a Dark Talon to a Storm Talon.. Although I am sure no one will care if you just sub it in. 

So rules wise the Talon can hover in place like its Smurf counter part.. Which makes it really easy to kill so be careful when you choose to do this. Str 5 large blast that blinds things, plus two hurricane bolters this plane is designed to hit ground units with fire power. It also has a Stasis bomb that lowers WS and Init on units it hits for a turn a believe. Allowing you to use it in a support role. I think this combo sounds ok but prob isn't needed  

The Jet fighter is more of your anti air unit. It has a Lascannon and missiles. The missiles are sadly only str 6 though and only one use per shot. It has a rule that lets you use any weapon destroyed as Immob instead which would be greatly better if the missiles weren't str 6. 

The reality in terms competitive gaming has both these units a bit over costed for what they bring to the table. You are going to be better off getting your flyers or anti flyer through allies IMO.

Citizensmith:  Got to say I really like the model, it is just a bit pricey.  Having looked in more detail it looks like as well as having wings it is a decent bit bigger than a Storm Talon. Hopefully that justifies its price a bit more, I'll be ordering one to find out.  Not sure I want to do much to it, but some plasticard to extend the nose out I think would look good.

Nephilim Jetfighter: First, when did jetfighter become one word?  Anyway, pretty decent vehicle.  Twin-linked heavy bolter is reasonable, twin-linked las cannon is nice, as is the avenger mega bolter it can be traded for. Then you have 6 krak grenades taped to the front of missiles so they'll go 36".  Straffing run is good for the BS5 against ground targets, got to be really unlucky to miss.  Unrelenting hunter will be good for annoying enemy flyers, especially if they are troop carriers so you can give them locked velocity.  Basically, its a great model and a good unit. <THUD>  oops, just knocked my Imperial Guard codex on the floor and it has fallen open to the fast attack. Oh look, Vendetta.  Better armor, 3 TL las cannons, comes 3 to a slot, it can carry troops and deep strike them on the run.  130 points.  Now how much was this Nephilim?  Oh yeah, 180.  Wait, what?  180?  Huh?

Dark Talon: Rules wise, 160 for the Dark Talon sounds like no way, never. 6 twin-linked boltguns and a Strength 5, AP- blast?  Nah.  Sure hover strike is a nice option but when you do it with a Vendetta you are halfway across the board.  Do it with this flyer and you are probably <18" away from your target who will kill you.  The stasis bomb is interesting at best and will be really hard to set up an effective use. Oh yeah, and the model looks kind of dumb with a church duct taped to its back.

AridMonk: Excellent models, flying churches and angry looking wings? SOLD.

...at least model wise. Rules wise, both these flyers leave a lot to be desired. Straight off the bat - cost. 180 points for the Nephalim is a fair whack of army, and brings very little offensive capability, it kind of seems like a plane that is a jack of all trades and a master of none; you can make it OK at anti infantry, in which case it has no real defence against those other flyers that will be shooting the arse off it, or you can make it somewhat anti tank with the twin linked lascannon, but the missiles underneath the wings wont do much against anything serious. Like I say, a middle of the road choice, which doesnt really excel at anything, and instantly becomes a "leave at home" when you see the price.

160 points, still a pretty large amount, buys you the Dark Talon. Thats compounded when you realise that this thing is less than useful. 6 TL Boltguns. Meh. Strength 5 Ap 0 blast weapon? Big meh. The bomb could be useful, but setting up flyers to use that in conjunction with your troops will be tricky.

In short, there are better options elsewhere in this codex. Buy the model for the model alone, not for the rules.